Jin-Roh - Uomini e lupi

osb.: GiS = Ghost in the Shell

I found this film to be a highly entertaining police thriller in the same vein as Ghost in the Shell in terms of characterization (of course, the premise was vastly different). It wasn't any timeless work of art and nothing compared to Miyazaki's output during the same period. To say that this was the best anime of the 1990's is ludicrous from my point of view: Ghibli alone made about 4-5 films better than this one in the decade, Ghost in the Shell is also a better film than this one.

Overall, I would recommend this film to anime fans and fans of police thrillers but not film buffs in general.

'Jin-Roh' is quiet possibly the best animated film to have come out in the 1990's. Sticking with the classical animation style, the creators of 'Jin-Roh' concocted one of the most impactful stories that I have ever seen on celluloid. Even though the plot is somewhat complex and the pacing of it slow-moving, I found myself drawn into the story of a hesistant storm trooper who falls for a bomb-carrying terrorist in a post-war Japan. As it progresses forth, we eventually see how more and more cold-blooded the film becomes. What really unnerved me was the interweaving of the real (uncut and uncensored) version of "Red Riding Hood". By the end of 'Jin-Roh', you can really feel as if you had your soul run over by a bus. The film's scathing look cruelty and depravity of human nature is unapologetic and unnerving. It will hit home in ways that some people may not fathom. To me, the message is that humanity should take a logical look at it's cruel side and try to find some way to keep it check. I loved this movie and I give it a 10 out of 10.

'Jin-Roh' is the best anime film of the 1990's and the second best anime all time.

It's hard to begin describing this, but I can only recommend it. Taking place in a bleak, and fully believeable alternate version of post-WW2 Tokyo, Jin-Roh accomplishes all the things that other anime cinema movies who were hailed as the holy grail of anime didn't accomplish, or at least never accomplished so well. And Jin-Roh does it with style.

The animation is very impressive, without even really trying. No overly flashy effects are hurled in your face in a "lookie here!" fashion, instead we get sobre, lifelike and extremely realistic chara designs that move with wonderful fluidity through some very beautiful backgrounds. The "less of you is more" effect is used to it's full extent here to create a foreboding and terribly tragic atmosphere.

The story, at it's most basic is a doomed lovers tale. Jin-Roh doesn't try to shock or disgust (though there are a few very frightening violent scenes in there), but wants to make you cry genuine tears of sorrow, and succeeds in every way.

The movie's approach is subtle, slow and delicate, and leaves a huge impact, exactly because it plays on a smaller scale. The fairy tale of the Little Red Riding Hood, and the image of the wolf (or "the beast" in general) are used throughout the movie with the same sobre flair. Apart from the main doomed lovers theme, there's also a very impressive story of betrayal and political intrigue in there, which adds a dash of suspense. Kudos to the great designs of the Panzer armors as well, who look powerful, and in some moments truly frightening.

In short, Jin-Roh is a wonderful piece of work, full of beauty and intelligence. It's not quite possible to make clear how strong this film is on paper, but watching it will leave an unforgettable impression. It's a stylish tragedy that makes you think as well as makes you cry. Don't hesitate to seek this out.

Whoa. Everything seems to click in the right place with Jin-Rô. Awfully tragic and cold story of a man with the nature of beast trying to interact with an ordinary girl. Of course it's all wrapped around political conspiracy plots and lots of references to fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood", but I think most of the time the movie still works quite nice as it is.

Animation is fluid and smooth, soundtrack is beautiful and the few action sequences the movie provides simply kick ass. But the main thing in Jin-Rô is the impossible and tragic relationship between a beast and a man. This aspect is done extremely well in the movie, thanks to supporting soundtrack, great voice actors and painfully emotional and touching end. I dare not to spoil it, but these kind of endings are rare in the movies, animated or real. Bold move, and it works like a dynamite.

Jin-Rô exceeded all my expectations, although they were quite high before I ever saw it.

Watching this, it is important to make an overlooked distinction between Western and Japanese animation: while the former is often also considered as a genre and calls to mind a specific type of audience and story, the latter is purely a format. Many a film out there in the realm of anime could have been made as a live-action feature, even though in cases like Akira or Ghost in the Shell, the budget would have been prohibitive.

This distinction is particularly interesting to apply to Jin Roh: this could well have been live-action, and since its story, themes and execution put it well outside the Western boundaries for animation we need to ask ourselves why it is not only particularly suited to that medium, but can easily be counted among the finest animated features of all time.

Drawing countless parallels with the tale of Little Red Riding Hood - the original, somewhat pessimistic version - Jin Roh explores two characters on an inevitable collision course: a traumatized, counter-terrorist elite soldier and a young, female future suicide-bomber. Given the subject-matter, it is surprisingly apolitical, not siding with either faction or even exploring the roots of terrorism within the context of this story. In fact, to great and horrifying effect, it is more concerned with the mundane nature of it all, and the dehumanizing effect of their roles on the respective characters. This is a world without redemption, where the only choice is between embracing your role, or drifting off into an abyss.

Telling this very specific story through animation elevates it into a myth, into a horribly grounded adaptation of that ultimate suspicious authority-rejecting cautionary fairytale. Perhaps there is no grandma or little red riding hood, only wolves in people's clothing. It's hard to imagine a live-action version of Fuse's empty stare that could ever conjure the effect deployed here.

Finally, Jin Roh was the last fully hand-drawn Japanese animated feature (1999), and it uses its broad array of technical tool with a mastery and restrain that puts even a Pixar or Studio Gibli to shame.

If you want monsters and heroes and magic, go see something else... This is a moving example of how a good story incredibly well told can rip your heart out. A must-see!